8 Next-Gen Recovery Aids

Gear to get you back on the horse

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The essentials to help you recover like a pro.
Photo: Inga Hendrickson

Jack Black Dragon Ice Balm ($23)

Photo: Courtesy of Jack Black

Jack Black’s Dragon Ice balm is subtle in scent (menthol) and sensation (a slight warming), but it alleviates muscle and joint pain while decreasing inflammation. The cream’s resin, derived from the South American dragon’s blood tree, also works to heal and protect skin.

Brazyn Morph Foam Roller ($68)

Photo: Courtesy of Brazyn

It’s hard to innovate a foam roller, but Brazyn’s Morph makes the traditionally cumbersome recovery staple portable. Just over a foot long and less than two pounds, it’s collapsible and fits easily into a backpack or carry-on without sacrificing strength. Holds up to 350 pounds.

Headspace App ($13 per month)

Photo: Courtesy of Headspace

Studies show that regular meditation reduces stress, which in turn enhances recovery. An app for meditating sounds counterintuitive, but Headspace (for Android and iOS) uses guided sessions and animated videos to hold your hand through the first stages of an often daunting-seeming practice.

Jade Harmony Mat ($75)

HyperIce HyperSphere ($149)

Photo: Courtesy of HyperIce

To work small tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue, you need precision control. A golf ball does the trick, but we like the HyperIce HyperSphere for the added vibration, which loosens up fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles.

Compex Wireless USA Muscle Stimulator ($1,150)

Photo: Courtesy of Compex

Research shows that electrical stimulation improves strength and reduces fatigue. Compex’s Wireless USA muscle stimulator is the most versatile at-home option on the market. With nine customizable programs tailored to specific athletes and workouts—endurance, strength, and warm-up, to name a few—it can be used before, during, or after a workout.